British actor and comedian Russell Brand was sentenced on Monday to a term of 10 and a half years in prison after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three other women, acts committed between 2004 and 2009. The Southwark Crown Court in London handed down the sentence on Monday. Brand was convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. Russell Brand was sentenced on Monday to 10 and a half years in prison after a judge praised the victims' courage and accused him of living 'unhindered by the rules by which decent people live'. [1] [3]
The jury convicted Brand of offences against four women. The offenses for which he was convicted include raping a woman in 2009, sexually assaulting a woman in 2004 (by touching her breasts at a party in Soho), assaulting a woman at a radio studio (Choice FM, 2004-2005), and assaulting a woman in 2009 during a Channel 4 filming project, when Brand placed his head in the victim's lap after she was made to give him a massage. 'In your trial you said you had never touched a woman sexually without her consent, and this includes this woman. In light of the jury's verdict, this was one of a series of lies you told,' the judge told him. The woman told the court that she was 'very upset and traumatized' and felt 'vulnerable' after the attack. There were many moments where I was visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he could get away with anything. Brand's second victim told the court that he laughed after he 'mauled' her by squeezing her breasts and kissing her chaotically while she worked at Choice FM radio station in 2004 or 2005. She said that he pinned her down during the 'violent' and 'frantic' attack, which took place in front of his entourage. The judge said: 'Your companions certainly believed it was outrageously laddish behavior, and only you got away with it. It was outrageously and possibly laddish, but also a sexual crime, and as it turns out, you did not get away with it.' The judge said that Brand was happy to exploit the fact that his youngest victim was a fan and showed his disdain for her by keeping her phone number next to the letter T for 'tart'. The woman told the court that she felt 'anxious, humiliated and overwhelmed' after Brand anally raped her without a condom at his home in London. She was 21 years old when Brand selected her from a crowd after one of his shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in early 2009. Brand sexually assaulted the woman in front of his entourage during a filming project at Channel 4 in 2009, when he placed his head in her lap after she was made to give him a massage. [1] [2]
The actor denied all allegations throughout the trial, claiming that all sexual relations were consensual. The British media personality, known for his complex stand-up routines and battles with addiction, maintained his innocence and stated that all his encounters were consensual. A jury of eight men and four women found him guilty on Thursday regarding attacks against four of the six accusers. He was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. The disgraced comedian was convicted last Thursday of raping a 21-year-old fan and sexually assaulting three women in separate incidents between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. [1] [3] [2]
The police chief stated that he would not be surprised if more complaints were filed by new victims. His lawyer, Ian Winter, stated that Brand is 'a fundamentally different person today' and has recovered from alcohol and drug addiction. The Metropolitan Police in London said that Brand is under investigation for two further alleged rapes, one involving a girl who was 16 years old at the time. The police chief stated on Friday that 'he would not be surprised if many more people came forward.' Earlier, Brand's lawyer, Ian Winter KC, said that the former TV personality is a 'fundamentally different person today' and is not 'generally speaking, a rapist.' In his submissions, he argued: 'This should be viewed as a man who went too far and withdrew the consent that had been given.' There was also a character submission in support of Brand from Andrew Sachs' niece, Georgina Baillie, who was at the center of a 2008 scandal when Brand and Jonathan Ross aired a Radio 2 segment leaving a voicemail pretending that she had slept with Brand. Winter said that Baillie was among six people who provided character references and stated that Brand had been sober for the past six years, and that Brand supports her and paid for her to go to rehab for alcohol addiction. Winter also told the court that Brand's wife stood by him before adding: 'I am sorry these are wholly inadequate words to try to convey the utter devastation he is experiencing.' Currently [they are] trying to explain to a child who just turned 10 what has happened here. But in his remarks, the judge told Brand: 'I am also very aware that your imprisonment will deprive your children of their father's presence: this sad loss for them, however, is caused by your serious offenses.' [1] [3] [2]
Judge Joel Bennathan told Brand that he acted with 'casual and arrogant disdain' for any woman's right to say no. The magistrate emphasized that Brand believed fame gave him permission to behave as he wished, 'unhindered by the rules by which decent people live'. Brand was called by Judge Bennathan a sexual predator who believed that fame exempted him from social rules. The magistrate added that Brand showed 'casual and arrogant disdain' towards women. 'About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you became famous. You were witty — and in the eyes of many, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator,' the judge told Brand. While sentencing him for the rape of one woman and the sexual assault of three others, Judge Bennathan told Brand that he had told him 'a series of lies'. The disgraced comedian displayed 'a casual, arrogant disdain for any woman's right to say no,' the magistrate declared. About 20 years ago, Russell Brand became famous. He was witty and, in the eyes of many people, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator. No matter how women dress, wherever they go, however much they drink, they retain the right to say no and seek justice in criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Mr. Brand, act without their consent. On Monday, the judge praised the courage of the women in the case. He also criticized Brand's 'astonishing arrogance' before sentencing him to 10 and a half years in prison. In his sentencing remarks, which were broadcast live, Bennathan told Brand: 'I stop to congratulate on the determination and courage of all the women whose evidence I have recounted. I am not increasing your sentence because of this, but all those women had to face confrontation and be told that they lied, or distorted the truth, or agreed to your sexual demands: all of this was done because of you, at your instruction.' The judge said that Brand's last offense displayed 'astonishing arrogance' and how his entourage indulged 'terrible behavior'. The whole episode reeks of casual disdain and your belief that fame means you can act how you want, when you want, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live. [1] [3] [2]
In the sentencing remarks, the judge described Brand's behavior as 'extremely arrogant' and noted that he felt 'entitled' to act aggressively towards victims, including a 21-year-old young woman whom he used as a fan, keeping her phone number next to the letter T for 'tart' (prostitute). Brand, aged 51, who attempted during the trial to present himself as a deeply religious Christian, showed no major emotions during the hearing. He denied having ever had non-consensual sexual relations. Brand, aged 51, appeared emotionless when he was incarcerated, but told his wife, Laura: 'We'll be fine,' as he was taken away by dock officers. His wife responded: 'I love you,' before leaving the courtroom in tears. [1] [3] [2]
The victims described in court the profound and long-term impact the assaults had on their lives. One victim stated that the trauma is 'something I carry with me every day and which often seems never to end,' while another said she had to take time away from work and return to her parents because she did not feel safe. Victims were granted the right to submit statements at the sentencing hearing, in which they described the trauma caused by Brand's attacks. Judge Bennathan praised the courage and determination of the women who spoke out. A victim, who was raped by Brand in 2009, stated in a statement read by prosecutors that the trauma of the attack is 'something I carry with me every day and which often seems never to end.' Some victims described the impact of his crimes on their lives, in a background article about the victims' statements. The sentencing of Brand, the culmination of a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, came after the four women described the impact of his crimes on their lives in victim impact statements. A woman who was raped by Brand said the attack had lasting consequences. Even now, I feel like I am living with the trauma of what happened. It is something I carry with me every day and it often seems never to end. I had difficulty eating and sleeping, and I struggled to cope with my emotions. The impact was so significant that I had to take time away from work, and for a period I returned to live with my parents because I did not feel safe. [1] [3] [2]
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